Universal remote control device for controlling entertainment-related functions

Abstract

In an embodiment of the invention, an apparatus for a universal remote control system for controlling entertainment-related functions, includes: a remote control device configured to transmit a control signal with a command; a computer configured to translate the command into a modified command and to transmit the modified command in a modified control signal; and an electronic device configured to perform a device function, in response to the modified command. In another embodiment of the invention, a method for a universal remote control system for controlling entertainment-related functions, includes: transmitting a control signal with a command from a remote control device; translating, by a computer, the command into a modified command and transmitting, by the computer, the modified command in a modified control signal to an electronic device; and performing a device function by the electronic device, in response to the modified command.

1. An apparatus for a universal remote control system for controlling home entertainment-related functions and standard computing operations, the apparatus comprising:
 a remote control device configured to transmit a first control signal with a first command, a second control signal with a second command, and a third control signal with a third command; 
 a computer configured to respond to the first command to perform selected ones of the standard computing operations including operations not related to home entertainment functions in a computer mode, respond to the second command to perform a home entertainment-related function of the computer in a first setting of an entertainment mode, translate the third command into a modified command and to transmit the modified command in a modified control signal, in a second setting of the entertainment mode; 
 wherein in a third setting of the entertainment mode, the computer is configured to perform computing operations, in response to the third command; 
 wherein the computing operations involve an operating system in the computer in the third setting of the entertainment mode; 
 wherein, in the second setting of the entertainment mode, the computer translates the third command into the modified command by use of a transcoding software and avoids translation of the third command by the operating system; and 
 a consumer electronic device configured to perform a consumer device function, in response to the modified command. 
 
   
   
     2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the computer comprises:
 a code table; 
 wherein the transcoding software translates the third command into the modified command by use of the code table. 
 
   
   
     3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the consumer device function comprises home entertainment-related function. 
   
   
     4. A method for universal remote control system for controlling home entertainment-related functions and standard computing operations of a computer, the method comprising:
 transmitting a first control signal with a first command from a remote control device; 
 transmitting a second control signal with a second command from the remote control device; 
 transmitting a third control signal with a third command from the remote control device; 
 performing selected ones of the standard computing operations including operations not related to home entertainment functions in a computer mode, in response to the first command; 
 performing a home entertainment-related function of the computer in a first setting of an entertainment mode, in response to the second command; 
 translating, by the computer, the third command into a modified command and transmitting, by the computer, the modified command in a modified control signal to a consumer electronic device, in a second setting of the entertainment mode; 
 in a third setting of the entertainment mode setting, performing computing operations, by the computer, in response to the third command; 
 wherein the computing operations involve an operating system in the computer in the third setting of the entertainment mode; 
 wherein, in the second setting of the entertainment mode, the computer translates the third command into the modified command by use of a transcoding software and avoids translation of the third command by the operating system; and 
 performing a consumer device function by the consumer electronic device, in response to the modified command. 
 
   
   
     5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the act of translating comprises:
 translates the third command into the modified command by use of a code table that is checked by the transcoding software. 
 
   
   
     6. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the consumer device function comprises home entertainment-related function. 
   
   
     7. An apparatus for a universal remote control system for controlling home entertainment-related functions and standard computing operations of a computer, the apparatus comprising:
 means for transmitting a first control signal with a first command from a remote control device, transmitting a second control signal with a second command from the remote control device, and transmitting a third control signal with a third command from the remote control device; 
 means for performing selected ones of the standard computing operations including operations not related to home entertainment functions in a computer mode, in response to the first command; 
 means for performing a home entertainment-related function of the computer in a first setting of the entertainment mode, in response to the second command; 
 means for translating the third command into a modified command and means for transmitting the modified command in a modified control signal to a consumer electronic device, in a second setting of the entertainment mode; 
 means for performing computing operations by the computer, in response to the third command, in a third setting of the entertainment mode; 
 wherein the computing operations involve an operating system in the computer in the third setting of the entertainment mode; 
 wherein, in the second setting of the entertainment mode, the computer translates the third command into the modified command by use of a transcoding software and avoids translation of the third command by the operating system; and 
 means for performing a consumer device function by the consumer electronic device, in response to the modified command. 
 
   
   
     8. A physical memory device having stored thereon instructions that when executed by a computer perform the following:
 receive a first control signal with a first command from a remote control device; 
 receive a second control signal with a second command from the remote control device; 
 receive a third control signal with a third command from the remote control device; 
 perform standard computing operations of the computer including operations not related to home entertainment functions in a computer mode, in response to the first command; 
 perform a home entertainment-related function of the computer in a first setting of an entertainment mode, in response to the second command; 
 translate the third command into a modified command and transmit the modified command in a modified control signal to consumer electronic device, in a second setting of the entertainment mode; 
 perform computing operations of the computer, in response to the third command, in a third setting of the entertainment mode; 
 wherein the computing operations involve an operating system in the computer in the third setting of the entertainment mode; 
 wherein, in the second setting of the entertainment mode, the computer translates the third command into the modified command by use of a transcoding software and avoids translation of the third command by the operating system; and 
 perform a consumer device function by the consumer electronic device, in response to the modified command.